Segregator



Oct. 5 1926. 1,601,868

G. E. LUCE 'SEGREGATOR Filed July 14, 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. GmFro/v ZT .l/cf.

TToRNExS. v

Oct. 5 1926. v1,601,868

G. E. LUCE SEGREGATOR Filed July 14, 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 Fll. 3

GRn/frm am A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 5 1926.

G. E. LUCE SEGREGATOR Filed July 1'4. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. GRH/fr0# a". am

A TTORNEYS Patented Oct. 5, i 1926.

UNITED sfr-A1155 snsnnenron.

Application filed-l July 11,

This invention relates to a mach-ine thatv may be utilizedl in hacking brick and is of the segregator type.

The vchief object ofthe invention is to produce a machine or device Which. is capable of receiving successively, intermittently, continuouslyv or instantaneously a complete load of brickor the like; by clamping and raising the brick clear ofthev belt While in open` format-ion and, after clamping and raising the saine thereby receiving said load in open formation, position the same in a predetermined' closed or set relation required foi` burning.

The'chiefl feature ofi the invention consist'sin the construction ofthe segregator device Wherebythe same is y substantiallyuniversal in its adaptability as will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter and which consists rin the arrangement for positioning the several brick or vthe like constitutingy lthe load'in a predetermined final position while supported` by? the segregator unit as a whole. Closing the brick up both Wayssimultaneously means that the ends of the brick do not touch until' they are in position` sideways, thereby obviating or eliminating distortion, breakage, or stvedging of the ends of the brick.

iVhen'thus arranged there is secured the desired openings bet'iveen the `several brick toy facilitate drying or buri'iing thereof'without disturbing the spaced relation otherwise. l

The full nature ofthe invention Will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description: and claims In lthe draWings,F-ig. l is a top plan view of the segregat'or construction showing the same in the -ektendedor filling position and with a complete load.y Fig. 2 isaside elevational view of a portion ofthe mech'- anisin shown in Fig. l and illustrates the saine in the saine position. Fig. Bis aview similar-to i and ofthe sainepartsand in the contractedor pre-arranged position.

4 isl a vien7 similar-to Fig. 2 but illustrates rthe parts in the position corresponding to that illustrated inl Fig. 3. Fi'g. 5 is a top plan viewl of the segregator unit, thev extended and contracted limiting positions being shown-'byV dottedr outlines jig.

a 1jlanvieiv-ofthe limiting? Wage 1924. Serial No. 726,032.

shown in the extended position., Fig. 7 is av similar View of the same parts inthe retracted position.

In brick making practice, although the invention herein disclosed is not to be 'understood as limited particularly to brick but is adaptedto operate upon other 'articles similar thereto, bricks Lare formed by a die which discharges on to a belt ror movable conveyor commonly termed in the artv an offbearing7 beit. The bricks are removed fromA the belt and-piacedfin a vpredetermined positionupon the drieror kiln cars. These kiln` cars are usually adapted to contain. eight courses of, brick high, the brick'vin yeach course beingalternate'ly positionedA at rightl to those through theadj'acent courses and previously deposited; Thecours'es usually are adaptedr to contain eightl bricks positionedl end to end the long Way of theicar'` and four bricks placed ,end to end the' short Way of the car. Fach car, therefore, contains eight courses long and twelve courses Wide, orninety-siX brick to 'eachrourse 1With eight courses'highthe car Wouldcontain seven hundred and sixtyeight "(76.8): brick. "When tivo cars are positioned siderv byY side they Would' contain twice Aninety-siii` or one hundred and ninety-.two brick to the course. i i i I i i Since the bricks are, arranged alternately. inthe several'courses, itr'ivill. be understood that the llength of each brick supports the` Widths of three bricksy and thus in alternate coursesthere Will be a front of eightv bricks in length and twenty-four bric-ks in end.:` lf twov4 standard cars be positionedvside by side, it Will'be apparent that said courses are adapted to receive'twenty-fourvrovvs of eight' bricks, eachplacedendy to end;` It Willbe apparent, therefore, that lQQ'bricksv ivillvrequire a substantially square. frame and Will completely lill a single course `upon tivo adjacently positioned drie'ror kiln cars.. B v turning the segrega'tor vframe prior'. to releasiinel the brick, the arrangementof thel brick will bel such that they Will be staggered in alternatecourses. Inbrick makingpractice, itis custom-ary to have the brick when lpositioned end to end kabut each other, but when positioned side to sidev to ,be spa-ced slightly fromeach other., l

The segregator, the"'for e, is adapted ltocontain-'any numbei d. .ndividual"brisk the like article engaging constructions, but herein 192 of these constructions are shown provided and associated together. lt will be understood that generally the drier cars are constructed with ends and no sides and are of such dimensions that there is but little clearance at each side atter the standard number of bricks have been positioned thereon. F or operating purposes, liow ever, some 'clearance is required between the individual brick engaging constructions. Since it is relatively impractical, although not impossible to construct a device which will permit the brick to be handled without the supporting mechanism being positionable within the car when releasing the brick, the desirable construction is that the entire mechanism should be oi smaller dimensions than those ot 'he car. result of satisfying these two contrary desirable conditions ot clearance in loading and compacto ss in unheldinfiA is the present segregator construction which is adapted to include a support that extensible and which is associated with each ot the individual brick-engaging means tor engaging the brick or the like article when in ex-I tended relation and for depositing brick or the like when in contracted relation.

The segregator construction, as previous' ly stated, is herein illustrated adapted to hold or handle 192 articles, such as brick or the like. These brick-engaging elements are arranger"L in rows or eight each, tii'entyfour rows being provided and tie outside dimensions are substantially that oin4 a square when the support is extended and contracted, although the outline may be rectangular without in any way departing from the invention, since for certain conditions the several movements in two transverse directions will not be equal. filer-ein however, the mechanism is shown adapted for substantially equal movement. Vif ith the brick-engaging constructions arranged in rows of eight each and twenty-four rows side by side, it will be understood that the saine is adapted to operate upon bricks presented by an ol'li'bearing belt or the like in any one of the following relations: one, two, three, tour, six, eight, twelve or twenty-tour columns side by side. Likewise, since there are eight individual constructions in a row, it will be apparent that the segregating de vice is adapted to simultaneously pick up bricks presented individually, two, four or eight at a time, or if presented continuously in row formation. 1t will be readily apparent that the segregator is substantially universal in its adaptability, since Vit can operate upon brick presented by the otibearing belt in many relationships, for example, two columns ol brick, each column presenting four bricks intermittently, or for another example operating upon eight col- .,ees

umn of brick, each being continuous, or for still another example, operating upon twelve cohiinn ot brick presented in sets or rows ci" eight each.

YWith this preliminary description ot the devices with which the segiegator is associated and the work that the sefxi'egator is desired to perform, reference will now be had to the detailed construction ol' the segregator elements.

ln the drawings 10 indicates the base which is supported or suspended by a post or upright 11 suitably secured thereto. rl'he base 10 is provided upon two opposite and parallel edges with a T-shaped depending guide 12 and upon its upper surface and upon the adjacent and parallel edges with a pair of parallel T-shaped guides 13. 'llhe base 10 suitably supports a power motoi 14 which carries' a spiral gear 15 adapted to drive another spiral gear 16 upon the shaft 1'?, which shatt carries another spiral gear 1S. The spiral gears 16 and 18 are adapted to mesh with the spiral gears 19 and 21 respectively carried by the shafts 2O and 22.l The shaft 23 carries a pair ot spiral gears 24 and 25 which mesh with spiral gears 26 and 27 carried upon the opposite ends ot the shafts 22 and 2O respectively. rllie resultant construction is a closed spiral gear drive power operable by the motor 1e, for extension and contraction ot the brick engaging supports. Each of the shafts 1'?, 20, 22 and 28 are extended and terminate in a pinion 28. As shown clearly in Figs. 2, l and 5,V halt ot the pinions arepositioned above the base plate 10 and halt are positioned below the base plate 10. Slidably supported upon each of the T- shaped upwardly extending projections or guide members 13 are a pair of outwardly extensible arms 29 having the T-shaped groove 30. The upper surface of the arin S() is toothed as at 3l to prf l a rack with which meshes one ot the pinions 28. Another arm 32 is provided with a "slot for receii'inv the suspendi guide and supp( .i ii?, previouslyy rllhe lower face of these members 32 ai' e also toothed as at Sli to form a rack and are adapted to mesh with the pinions 28 lt will be readily apparent from the foregoing that whenever the motor 1% is energized,

the power transmitted through the pinions 28 will either simultaneous y retract the transversely positioned supports and 32 or will simultaneously extend the saine, and herein to the same extent.

Each oi" the arms terminate in a depei .ling member f which is provide-:l with an opening 36 in its loweriend, and said opening is adapted to slidably receive a sleeve 37. The sleeve 3'? in turn is supported by a sleeve 38, which in turn is slidably supported by a tubular shaft 39. rlhe sleeve lill 37 also supports a shaft" 40.'- The foregoing construction, to-wit, sleeves 37, 38 and 39 and shaft 40, see Fig. 5,-constitutes one-half of the elongated shaft or'support which su sorts 24 of the individua-lfbrick-enoaeino'/ l b o en constructions.

of the arms at its end includes a depending arm 4l apertured as at 42 to slidably support a sleeve 43 carried by a tubular shaftl 44, and saidv sleeve 43 also supports a shaft 45. The foregoing constitutes but half of the shaft adapted to sup-- port eight brick constructions constituting a rowof brick in end formation. he foregoing telescopic arrangement, therefore-includes eight telescopic shafts, each including members 37, 3S, 39 and 4() and 24 transversely positioned telescopic shafts includingk members 43, 44and 45. It will be apparent that outward movement of the meinbers 32 will'cause the outermost shafting, including members 43, 44 and 45, to move, and'since the several' constructions are telescopically arranged, the entire mechanism will be extended inV that direction. Similarly, if the members 29 are extended, said extension causesthe outermost shafting, includingl the members 3T, 38, 39 and 40 to move outward together with the others intermediate the same. The shafting will telescope upon reverse movement. The resultant construction is that all of the shafting is simultaneously extended or contracted and without interference..

Reference will now be had particularly to Figs. 2 and 4. In said figures one form of brick or similar article engaging clement is illustrated. and herein the brick is indicated by the numeral 46. The brick or similar article is adapted to be engaged or clamped by a pair of fingers or plate members 47, and these plateV members are actuated by mechanisms forming no part of the present invention and are suitably supported by the supportingor saddle construction 43'. The supporting construction 48 is provided with two transversely positioned openings 49 and 50 which receive the transversely positioned shafting. lt will be understood that each ofthe supports 43 is supported by two transversely positioned shafts. Some of these members are slidably supported upon said shafting and others are fiXedly supported thereby as necessary or desired.

The means for insuring accurate spacing includes suitable linkage. These links have elongagted openings at each end. The distance between the op-enings in each link constitutes the minimum clearance between the shafting in the contracted or telescopic position. rlhe distance from the farthest points on the elongated slots of the link constitutes the maximum distance between the units. it will be apparent that these links need not necessarilyv beof vthe same length or size andv will notbe of the same opening diameter, for the shafting may notber of' the same diameter.' lt' will onlyy be necessary to provide two transverse sets of linkages, but for'equal movement two parallel pcsition of each brick-engaging unit is aocurately determined in the extended and con'- tracted positions, which are the two essential positions.

The invention claimed is: iln a segregatoi', the combination of' a supporting base, an extensible shaft, and

means supported upon said base for movement parallel to said shaft for changing the length thereof.

2. In a scgregator, the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of extensiblev shafts. said shafts being positioned parallel to each other, and means supported upon said base fior'movement paralled to said shaftsV for simultaneously changing the length thereof.

3. in a segregator, the combination of a supporting base, an eXtensible shaft, another shaft positioned transversely of said eX- tensible shaft, and means supported by said base for movement parallel to the said eX- tensible shaft, whereby movement ofthe moving means through the second mentioned or transverse shaft changes the lengt-h ofthe extensible shaft and moves the second mentioned shaft intol a position-parallel to its first position.

4. A device of the character defined by claim 3, characterized by the second mentioned shaft beingextensible and the addition of a second moving means supported upon said base' for movement transverse to the first mentioned moving means whereby movement of the second moving means through the first mentioned shaftY changes the length of the second mentioned eXtensible shaft and moves the first mentioned shaft into a position parallel to its first position.

5. ln a segregator, the combination of a plurality of groups ofv parallel positioned shafts, said groups being positioned transversely of each other, a plurality of individual members each having a connection with two of the transversely positioned shafts at the projected intersectionthereof, andmeans for movingv one group-of parallel positioned shafts into positions parallel to Cir their original position for moving the members with respect to the transversely positioned shafts.

6. A device as defined by claim 5, characterized by the addition of means for securing the parallel movement of the transversely positioned or second group of shafts into position? parallel to their original positions for moving said members with respect to the Vfirst mentioned group of parallel positioned shafts.

7. l device as defined by claim 5, characterized by the addition of means for securing the parallel movement of the transversely positioned or second group of sharts into positions parallel to tl al positions for moving said menilw. h respect to the first mentioned group of parallel positioned shafts, anl means iror causing' simultaneous actuation of said shaft moving means, whereby each of the members is moved simultaneously in a resultant direction angular to the parallel and trai averse positionings of said shafts and from its initial projected intersection position.

S. fr device of the cl `lacter defined hy claim 5, characterized by meansl iated ivith all of one group of sha the parallel positioning movement thereoi.

9. fr device of the charac! dei" d by claim 5, characterized K) means for securing tu the transversely posit oned of shafts into po itions para i original positions for movingl said memo with respect to the lirst mentioned parallel positioned shafts, means associated with all of one group for limiting the parallel positioning movement thereof, and transversely positioned means associated with the transversely positioned group of parallel shafts for limitinthe parallel positioning movement of said last mentioned group.

l0. A device as defined by claim 5, characterized by the addition of means for securing the parallel movement of the transversely positioned or second group of shafts into positions parallel to their original positions for moving said members vvith resp ct to the first mentioned group of parallel positioned shafts, means for causing` simultaneous actuation of said shaft mi'iving means, whereby each of trie members moved simultaneously in a resultant l direction angular to the parallel and transverse positionings of said shafts and from its initial projected inte ysection position, and the addition of transversely7 positioned means associated with the transversely positioned parallel groups of shafts for limiting the parallel positioning movement in the transverse directions.

ll. A device of the character defined by group of arallel positioned shafts, all of 'l 1 .Ni/altr shafts beingl of extensible character ivhcreby said parallel movement of each roup of parallel shafts secures change of ngth in the other and transversely posioned group of parallel shafts.

i3. il device as defined by claim 5, characterized by the addition of means for securing the parallel movement of the transversely positioned or second mentioned group of shafts into positions parallel to their origl al positions for moving said members vfith respect to the vfirst mentioned group of parallel positioned shaft-s, and means for ca sing ffiimultaneous actuation of said sh ft moving means, whereby each of the mciibers is moved simultaneously in a resultant direction angular to the parallel and transverse positionings of said shafts from its initial proieclel intersection seing of extenpo ition, all of said shafts lV siole character, whereby all of said shafts are simultaneously changed in length through the pirtllel movement of shafts positioned transversely thereof.

lll. ln a segregator, a plurality op similar members arranged in a plurality of parallel roivs, a shaftsupporting each of the parallel rows, said members being longitudinally slidable thereon, means for moving said shafts into positions parallel to their original positions, and means for moving said members upon saitL shafts.

l5. ln a segregator, i, plurality of similar members arranged in tandem and parallel arrangement in a plurality ofA transverse parallel row arrangements, a shaft supporting each of the members arranged in row formation. said members being slidable longitudinally th-reon, and means for moving the transversely positioned shafts into positions parallel to their original positions for moving each of the members from the initial positions to an ulti ate position in a direction angular to the longitudinal movement of said members upon the shafts.

ln vvitness whereof, l have hereunto ar'lixed my signature.

llO 

